The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $55 million in grant selections through the Low or No Emission (Low-No) Vehicle program, which funds the development of transit buses and infrastructure that use advanced fuel technologies. Fifty-one projects in 39 states will receive a share of the funding. The vast majority of the funded projects are for battery-electric buses and infrastructure; two projects are receiving a total of $3.2 million for hydrogen fuel cell buses.

Eligible projects included those that replace, rehabilitate, lease, and purchase buses and related equipment as well as projects to purchase, rehabilitate, construct or lease bus-related facilities, such as buildings for bus storage and maintenance. Projects can also include workforce development components to train the next generation of transit employees.

FY2017 Low-No projects

Sponsor
(Partners)

Description

Funding

Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities will receive funding to purchase battery electric buses, associated charging infrastructure and a back-up generator to maintain bus service in a disaster situation. Juneau, the Capital City of Alaska, has a clean, renewable source of energy, local hydropower. Transitioning the fleet to all electric will eliminate emissions from diesel buses and emissions from shipping diesel fuel by barge 900 miles from Seattle.

$408,130

Alabama A&M University

Alabama A&M University’s Bulldog Transit System will receive funding to purchase electric buses, charging stations, and other associated equipment. BTS has a commitment to replace buses that have reached the end of their useful life with zero emission buses.

$1,000,000

City of Fairfield

The City of Fairfield will receive funding to purchase all-electric, zero-emission Proterra 35' Catalyst E2 buses and supporting charging infrastructure as part of their Alternative Fuels and Fleet Replacement policy, which focuses on transitioning to an all-electric fleet. By replacing aging fleet vehicles with Proterra electric buses, the City of Fairfield will improve both route efficiency and air quality.

$1,225,000

City of Los Angeles, Department of Transportation

The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will receive funding to purchase Proterra 35-foot, battery electric, zero emission buses with a capitalized lease for the electric battery and to install electric charging stations at the Sylmar/San Fernando Valley and Downtown Bus Facilities. The funding is for the incremental cost of a battery electric bus over a CNG bus and leverages federal, state, local utilities and local match to purchase the battery electric buses for service expansion.

$1,225,000

Napa Valley Transportation Authority

Napa Valley Transportation Authority will receive funding to purchase BYD 30' battery electric buses to replace buses in a comprehensive revitalization of Vine Transit's current revenue vehicle fleet. The 30' battery electric buses will replace several vehicles at or near the end of their useful lives. All of the replacements are diesel powered heavy-duty buses that are past their twelve-year life span.

$1,092,250

Redding Area Bus Authority

Redding Area Bus Authority will receive funding to purchase all-electric Proterra 35-foot Catalyst E2 transit buses; install fast-charge bus charging stations with a charging cube and supporting infrastructure; make other necessary improvements to RABA's maintenance depot; and train drivers and staff on operation and maintenance of buses and equipment.

$746,456

Antelope Valley Transit Authority

Antelope Valley Transit Authority will receive funding to purchase battery electric buses that will replace diesel buses that have exceeded useful life. AVTA is committed to having an all electric fleet by 2018.

$705,347

State of Colorado Department of Transportation

The State of Colorado Department of Transportation will receive funding to purchase zero emission buses for the Town of Vail, Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, and the City of Boulder. The buses will replace diesel buses that have exceeded useful life.

$1,450,000

Connecticut Department of Transportation

The Connecticut Department of Transportation will receive funding to purchase 40' Proterra E2 Max battery electric buses through a joint effort with CTtransit’s Hartford Division and Greater Bridgeport Transit. The project will be the next step in CTDOT's zero emission bus deployment program with the goal to minimize the carbon emissions of Connecticut's bus fleet.

Gainesville RTS will receive funding to purchase Gillig 40' battery electric buses and depot chargers to replace diesel buses. These buses will be Gainesville RTS's first zero emission buses, and one of the first deployments of the Gillig battery electric bus.

$1,000,000

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority will receive funding to execute a second phase of its electric bus program to install charging infrastructure (on-route & charging bank for depot chargers) and buy electric buses. The charging infrastructure is an integral part of PSTA's long-term battery electric bus program.

$1,000,000

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will receive funding to replace diesel buses with 40' battery electric Gillig buses and chargers for an expansion route. The new route will serve a Park-n-Ride and a new Amazon distribution center that employs over 1,500 Jacksonville residents. Because the charging stations will utilize Jacksonville Electric Authority's Solar Smart Power program, the buses will truly have zero emissions.

$1,000,000

Broward County

Broward County Transit (BCT) will receive funding to replace diesel buses that have met their useful life with all-electric 45' over-the-road buses. Purchase of these buses will include associated depot charging infrastructure to support bus deployment. The buses will be operated on BCT's express bus routes servicing the Southeast Florida cities of Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

$1,000,000

City of Tallahassee

The City of Tallahassee’s public transit service provider, StarMetro, will receive funding to replace aging diesel buses with 35-foot Proterra Catalyst fast-charge battery electric buses. The project will add to battery electric buses that are currently in StarMetro's fleet.

Honolulu will receive funding for Gillig battery electric buses with depot chargers in the Honolulu area as their inaugural project to transition their fleet to zero emission. This project is unique in that the buses will be charged during the day to take advantage of the renewable energy made available by the abundant solar and wind energy available on the island. Project partners are Oahu Transit Services, Gillig, Hawaiian Electric Company and the Center for Transportation and the Environment.

$1,450,000

Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART)

Des Moines Area Regional Transit will receive funding to purchase all-electric replacement buses and to update supporting electrical infrastructure. Project partners are MidAmerican Energy and Proterra. These vehicles will be the first electric transit buses deployed in Iowa.

Connect Transit will receive funding to replace diesel buses used in fixed route service with zero-emission, 40-foot, battery electric buses. Connect will install solar power panels at an existing maintenance facility to support the electric bus deployment and reduce the costs associated with charging the buses.

$1,450,000

Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit

Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit will receive funding to purchase New Flyer 60' zero-emission fuel cell electric buses with supporting hydrogen infrastructure. This project will be the first commercial deployment of articulated fuel cell buses in the US. CUMTD will produce hydrogen on-site partially from renewable sources.

$1,450,000

Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation

IndyGo will receive funding to upgrade electrical infrastructure to charge electric buses at its operations facility. This upgrade supports IndyGo plans to replace all diesel buses with electric buses by 2032. IndyGo's projected fleet will include 143 electric local buses and 56 electric rapid transit buses.

$1,450,000

Transit Authority of Lexington (Lextran)

Lextran will receive funding to purchase battery electric buses and on-route charging stations to service the University of Kentucky campus, City of Lexington, and Fayette County. The purchase will add to Lextran's existing fast-charge fleet as well as introduce extended-range buses, allowing for expanded zero emission service, which will help to achieve both Lextran and UK campus sustainability goals.

$1,000,000

Capital Area Transit System (CATS)

CATS will add new Proterra 35' Catalyst XR electric buses, depot charges, and an on-route fast charger to their bus fleet. The buses will be deployed on the Bus Rapid Transit Florida Boulevard, and Plank Road Routes and the newly planned North Baton Rouge HUB facility allowing several options for expansion.

$500,000

Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government

This project will introduce battery electric fueled buses to the Lafayette Transit System fleet, along with overnight charging stations. The Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government is looking to replace retired diesel fueled buses with Proterra zero emission battery electric fuel buses. The buses will be deployed in areas such as downtown and the University.

$500,000

Massachusetts Department of Transportation

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority will receive funds to purchase all-electric transit buses and an energy storage system.

$1,200,000

Montgomery County, Maryland

Montgomery County, Maryland will receive funds to purchase Proterra 35' E2 battery electric buses, as well as depot chargers, to replace diesel buses. The buses would be Montgomery County's first zero-emission buses and would be a component of green and sustainable initiatives underway in the county.

$1,750,000

Mass Transportation Authority

The Mass Transportation Authority will receive funds to purchase and deploy electric buses as replacement buses for buses that have met and exceeded their useful life, as well as charging stations to provide the necessary infrastructure to support the fleet of electric vehicles.

$500,000

Metropolitan Council / Metro Transit

Metro Transit will receive funds to replace diesel buses with battery electric buses as well as the needed charging equipment. The buses will be used on the new C Line, which is a rapid bus line.

$1,750,000

Bi-State Development Agency (Metro)

St Louis Metro Transit will receive funds to replace older model diesel buses with battery electric city transit buses in the St Louis region. The goal is to integrate battery electric buses on specific high profile routes in the St Louis downtown and metropolitan area. Battery electric buses will allow Metro to continue to support the region's sustainability and air quality efforts.

$1,450,000

Missoula Urban Transportation District

The two primary public transportation providers in Missoula, MUTD and ASUM-OT, are collaborating in the deployment of electric buses to advance agency goals to convert to clean vehicle technology. As a community that faces severe air quality issues, as well as record growth in transit ridership, this project is well supported by local and regional plans, and will deliver significant benefits to regional air quality.

$500,000

City of Asheville

The City of Asheville will receive funds to acquire 35-foot battery electric buses and chargers. This project will be the catalyst to transition Asheville's transit fleet to 100% zero emission vehicles within 10 years.

$633,333

City of Lincoln, Nebraska

The City of Lincoln will receive funds to purchase electric buses that will replace heavy-duty diesel buses. The new buses will be used on routes that connect residents to employment opportunities. Additionally, electric charging stations, a transformer, and staff training on electric buses will be funded.

$1,450,000

New Jersey Transit

NJ Transit is purchasing Proterra Catalyst electric buses to operate out of the Newton Avenue Garage. These buses will provide best in class fuel efficiency and will produce no local emissions. This will reduce ground level emissions of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulates.

$500,000

City of Las Cruces

Building upon local plans, the City of Las Cruces will receive funding to purchase zero-emission buses that will replace aging diesel buses and expand their service area. The bus acquisition helps the city achieve its sustainability goals of economic viability, environmental health, and social responsibility while building a model for future battery electric bus procurements.

$1,450,000

Tahoe Transportation District

Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) will receive funding to expand their electric bus fleet.

$850,000

Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority

Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority will receive funding to purchase electric buses, related maintenance equipment, and the installation of a charging system. These buses will be used for revenue service, replacing older diesel buses, resulting in significant reduction in emissions.

PAAC will purchase 40-foot battery electric buses and rapid electric charging stations. The new electric buses will be operated on Port Authority's 88 Penn route serving Pittsburgh's East End. Also included in this project is workforce training and development.

$500,000

South Carolina Department of Transportation

The City of Seneca and Oconee County will purchase 35' Proterra Catalyst zero-emission extended-range battery electric buses to the nation's first all-electric transit bus system. This project is part of a planned all-electric transit service expansion to two municipalities in rural Oconee County.

$1,450,000

Greenville Transit Authority

Greenville TA is partnering with Proterra to purchase battery electric transit buses, overhead and depot chargers, and related equipment and infrastructure. By replacing vehicles that have exceeded their useful life, this project will improve the condition of buses providing regular passenger service, improve air quality, and reduce expenses associated with operating diesel vehicles.

$1,450,000

Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority

Nashville MTA is partnering with Proterra to purchase battery electric transit buses that will operate on the Music City Circuit downtown circulator routes. MTA is extending one of the Music City Circuit routes to connect to Tennessee State University's main campus.

$500,000

City of Lubbock/Citibus

The City of Lubbock and local transit agency Citibus will receive funding to purchase Proterra 40' fast-charge electric buses that will be used on the Texas Tech University campus. The project also includes an on-route fast charger and depot charger. By replacing diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life with battery electric buses, Citibus will reduce overall fleet energy consumption, maintenance costs, and emissions.

$1,750,000

VIA Metropolitan Transit

VIA Metropolitan Transit will receive funding to replace diesel buses with battery electric buses. The new battery electric buses will support urban renewal efforts in the downtown area as well as VIA’s workforce development program. VIA’s use of 100% renewable grid power ensures the battery electric buses will truly be zero emissions.

Hampton Roads Transit will purchase 40-ft Proterra Catalyst E2 Extended Range Electric Buses and associated Depo Plug-in Chargers. These buses have the benefit of improving air quality by eliminating dangerous particulate emissions, and results in a savings of 14.5 million pounds of carbon emissions during the useful life of the buses.

$500,000

Vermont Agency of Transportation

The Vermont Agency of Transportation will receive funding to purchase electric buses. The project is a collaborative effort that includes a local utility, bus company, state, as well as a private energy company and will support reduced energy consumption & emissions. Buses will be deployed at Green Mountain Transit in Burlington, Vermont.

$480,000

Kitsap County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority

Kitsap Transit will receive funding to replace diesel buses with battery electric buses and charging infrastructure. In 2016, KT dedicated local funding to the demonstration of one battery electric bus in its service area located in Kitsap County, WA. KT is collaborating with Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Puget Sound Energy, and EV Support to analyze the advanced technology buses and infrastructure.

$1,000,000

City of Madison

Metro Transit will receive funding to purchase 40' battery electric buses that will replace diesel buses. The project will begin the fleet transition to all electric buses. The City of Madison has a goal to convert the fleet to 50% electric by 2035.

$1,278,950

Total

$54,992,016

Eligible recipients included transit agencies, state transportation departments, and Indian tribes. Projects were selected on a competitive basis using evaluation criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, such as community needs, project benefits, and local technical and financial capacity.

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, passed by Congress and signed into law in December 2015, authorizes FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program, which includes the Low or No Emission Grants Program, through FY 2020.

While the amounts are modest the affect is that many new entries are enabled.

Seed money can create industry in many forms including technicians training as well as a good spread of market variables from which useful understanding can be obtained.

With many entrants with presumably little experience of implementing these changes a second round of contingency and associated expenditures funding and support services seems a sensible consideration.